Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Steve Stenersen, the CEO of US Lacrosse since the organization’s inception in 1998, announced his intention yesterday to depart the organization by the end of 2021. The decision is the outcome of a multi-year series of strategic conversations between Stenersen and the US Lacrosse Board of Directors about succession planning and organizational evolution.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to steward US Lacrosse from its infancy to the extraordinary position the organization occupies today,” Stenersen said. “I’m enormously proud of what has been accomplished to date and will be forever grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented and passionate coworkers and volunteers throughout the United States in service to the sport we love. My pride for US Lacrosse is matched only by my excitement about what I know will be a rewarding journey of continued success.”
Read more here.
Steve's been with USL since its inception in 1998, leading a movement to unify the national structure for lacrosse, merging 8 orgs to form @USLacrosse. He's helped grow international participation from 11 nations in '98 to 68 in '21 w/ a bid for the @Olympics in '28. Incredible. https://t.co/DNy9IuFgsH
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) March 29, 2021
2. If rankings are a reflection of what we learned over the previous weekend, then here are a few key takeaways.
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Neither No. 5 Syracuse nor No. 9 Notre Dame dropped spots after they more than held their own against No. 1 Duke and No. 5 Virginia, respectively, in a pair of one-goal losses. The Orange and the Fighting Irish meet this weekend at the Carrier Dome in another high caliber ACC clash. Duke squares off against No. 3 UNC on Thursday.
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Northwestern is peerless in the Big Ten, a conference that apart from the Wildcats has provided one surprising result after the next, the latest of which was Ohio State’s weekend sweep of then-No. 10 Penn State. The Nittany Lions drop to No. 20 in this Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20.
FULL RANKINGS
D-I: Men | Women
D-II: Men | Women
D-III: Men | Women
3. In other rankings news:
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The status quo holds in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Men’s Top 20, since the top 10 teams remain unchanged.
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Tampa (3-0) jumped five spots from No. 10 to No. 5 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Women’s Top 20
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There’s a new No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men’s Top 20, as RIT’s 4-0 start has helped the Tigers claim the top spot.
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Three new teams joined the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women’s Top 20.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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The University of Maryland announced guidelines for public attendance at athletic venues, including Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.
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Inside Lacrosse’s feature on perennial power McDonogh’s (Md.) girls’ lacrosse team, led by U.S. women’s national team player (and US Lacrosse Magazine columnist) Taylor Cummings, who took over the program in 2019.
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The Richmond Times-Dispatch notes how Dalton Young, the Richmond men’s lacrosse team’s leading scorer, is the latest in a long line of high school multi-sport athletes who have excelled for the Spiders.
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A Q&A from the Carroll County Times with Maryland defensive leader Lizzie Colson.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
One way to put a one-goal loss to Navy behind you? Get a hug from Flo Rida.
Flo Rida just came up to me and gave me a hug. And I definitely didn’t play it cool. pic.twitter.com/rcW5xOyBZo
— Kristen Skiera (@CoachWaags) March 29, 2021
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Taylor Cummings offers her takes on the latest women’s college lacrosse action.
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The first in-season update to the National Top 25 high school rankings.